 The Houston Democracy Project likes to read books. Current reading is The Fifties--An Underground History. The book is an account of activism in the fifties for gay rights, feminism, civil rights & ecology. Ordinary people do brave things. Each of us may be called on to be brave in the days ahead as we confront an authoritarian challenge. Here is a review of the book.
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 Above you see word of a vigil on Sunday, 3/3, to honor and remember the life of Nex Benedict. Thanks to organizers Meghan Fairbanks and Ethan Michelle Ganz for the leadership in organizing the event. All of us can take the lead when events demand. Nex Benedict is the non-binary 16 year old who died after a fight in school in Owasso, Oklahoma. Oklahoma has a hateful climate right now towards people such as Nex Benedict. It's not so great in Texas either. Showing up for others is very much part of showing up for democracy. We have to ready to fight for everybody. Please consider attending this vigil on March 3. The City of Houston and the Houston Police Department will continue using software from a company called Dataminr to monitor social media posts.
Here is some of what the Houston Landing reported: The Houston Police Department will stay in the ranks of law enforcement agencies around the country using software to monitor social media for information on criminal activity following a City Council vote on Wednesday....Council members approved without debate or dissent spending $108,000 on software from Dataminr, a company that has drawn concern from civil liberties advocates while touting its ability to alert police to breaking events....Supporters say Dataminr’s products do not raise privacy concerns because they rely on publicly available posts from social media users. Critics, however, have raised alarms about agencies using Dataminr products to zero in on abortion and Black Lives Matter protesters...In other cities, however, Dataminr has drawn scrutiny from civil liberties groups who fear it could be used to single out demonstrators...or ordinary residents whose social media posts are misinterpreted....Christopher Rivera, a spokesperson for the Texas Civil Rights Project, said he was concerned the police department could use the tool to focus on protesters...The Houston Police Department did not answer a question about whether it has placed any limitations on its use of the software. Without forgetting that Council approved this without questioning or dissent, what words and terms should Dataminr be looking for in Houston to protect public safety? Here are suggestions: "I support the Republican Party." This could indicate a refusal to accept election results and planning for insurrection. The political right has been identified as a likely source of violence and domestic terrorism. "Houston Police Officers Union" The police union backs election-deniers and lawless dangerous people like Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. They should be monitored for extremism. "Vote for Greg Abbott." Governor Abbott has said he would order the shooting of migrants except that he would be prosecuted by the Biden Justice Department. This is violent and dangerous. "I agree with Mayor Whitmire that DPS troops should be deployed to Houston." State of Texas DPS officers in Houston would enforce SB 4 & in a 2nd Trump term would implement Trump's stated intent to suspend civil liberties and launch mass migrant roundups. We are ten months short of potentially living in a Viktor Orban type society--beyond the fact we are already in Texas--with mass deportations that would bring police and National Guard troops into communities across Houston and Harris County. The extremism and radicalism is directly in front of us. It comes from the political right and is sitting in the legislature, the city council chamber and at the police union hall. It is just something that we have active right wing/white supremacist threats of violence and insurrection openly around us, and all the tax money we pay for police offers little meaningful protection. HPD gets $1.6 billion of a $6.2 billion budget. It is disappointing Houston City Council did not ask questions about the Dataminer contract. Civil liberties should be an important topic in this political climate. Beyond that, Councilmembers should be holding democracy town hall-type forums where they discuss the right-wing threat, voting, organizing and self-defense. The bottom line purpose of the Houston Democracy Project is that we must act on our own behalf. We must demand elected officials and institutions act in a way that meets the gravity of the moment. We are going to have make these demands ourselves. Nobody is likely to act in a brave and imaginative way other than everyday residents of Houston/Harris County who want a future rooted in democracy & freedom. The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].  Please sign the Houston Democracy Project/John Cornyn Houston Office Protest petition on Change.org calling on all of us to be present in the days ahead no matter the gravity of the political situation. Here is the link to the petition. Please sign and share it with others. (Above is Week 367 of the Cornyn Office Protest. Each Tuesday, 11:30-1, 5300 Memorial Dr.) Here is what the petition says: The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest began seven years ago as one of many Tuesday protests at offices of Republican Senators when Donald Trump was inaugurated. To our knowledge, we are the last weekly protest remaining. Over time, our mission has shifted. Without forgetting Cornyn is awful, our core mission has become the act of showing up no matter what as we face the authoritarian threat from the right. With the exception of Hurricane Harvey when our corner was underwater, we haven't missed a week. Will you commit to following the example of the Cornyn Protest team and showing up or being present as needed no matter what in 2024 and into 2025? What does this mean?
Showing up is critical. Here in Texas, Republicans have passed legislation allowing them to meddle in or even overturn Harris County election results. Nationally, Republicans are nominating Trump again. Trump has not committed to accept election results and has said he'll use the Insurrection Act to suspend civil liberties and consider sending the National Guard into cities. Consider your role in 2024. As tired as we are, there is no doubt about the threat. Make the pledge now to yourself, to the people in your life and to the values that guide you, that you will show up and be present no matter what in 2024 and 2025. The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest Team has never let up over seven years. We can't let up either. Please go the petition, sign and share it with others. Thank you. The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected]  A few days ago I got an e-mail out of the blue from Steve Norris who lives in nearby Brazoria County. Here is much of what Steve said in his e-mail: I am alarmed about the deterioration of our democracy and have started my own effort to try to convince U.S. voters not to vote for Donald Trump. This effort has to come from the general population, not politicians, media, or the courts. We need to dispel the myriad of lies that have convinced tens of millions of Americans that the 2020 election was 'stolen' and that Trump is a legitimate candidate for election. Everyone who recognizes the threat that Trump poses needs to be part of the grass roots effort to convince their family, friends, and neighbors not to vote for him. I have begun a series of Facebook posts, which is of course effective only among the 300 or so Facebook friends I have. I have also designed a sign that says "Protect our democracy, don't vote for Trump." We have that sign in front of our home. I also have started to take the same sign to Hermann Park (near the traffic circle with the Sam Houston statue) every Saturday from Noon to 1, beginning last week.. I have received many positive responses, along with a few naysayers. Recruiting people to join me has been challenging, because they fear violent retribution. Do we want a society where people are reluctant to express their opinions, for fear of being shot?.....Please feel free to contact me by phone, text, or email. Today I joined Steve in Hermann Park. Steve is in the middle & I'm on the left. Thanks to Jay who also joined. Steve's view is much the same of the Houston Democracy Project. We must lead the fight for democracy. We can't wait for others. We must talk to people we know about the consequences of a Trump win in 2024. Showing up matters. People must see the example of showing up. We can't be afraid. Please join Steve in Hermann Park each Saturday at noon as detailed in his e-mail. A lot of people see him at Hermann Park on a weekend. Consider ways you can take the lead and take action in fighting and showing up for freedom and progress. Do it for yourself, the people in your life and for all of us. The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].  The Poor People's Campaign will hold a big event in Austin on March 2. Above you see the details. It's part of a nationwide course by the Campaign of action throughout 2024. Here is an interview with Denita Jones from the Texas Poor People's Campaign conducted by myself and Alexander Montalvo of the Texas Grassroots Alliance. This is part of a Texas Grassroots Alliance series of online broadcasts meant to give voice to organizers and grassroots leaders in Texas who are not affiliated with elected officials, campaigns or non-profits who depend on relationships with elected officials. There are plenty of good folks who are elected officials, candidates and who are associated with well-known non-profits. The belief of the Houston Democracy Project is that people outside the mainstream political system delivering increasingly authoritarian outcomes will be ones leading the fight for democracy in the challenging days ahead. Please check out the Poor People's Campaign website and consider attending the March 2 event. Keep on reading the Houston Democracy Project Blog to learn more about Texas Grassroots Alliance programming that gives a meaningful voice to all Texans. The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].   I handed out the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus endorsement card today in a volunteer shift. I'm seen here with involved Houstonian Cathy Courtney. Cathy has a long record of advocacy in Houston. Here are some reasons I take these volunteer shifts: *We must show up for one another. Our fates are connected. The right is coming for everything and everyone. * I want to earn my voice at Caucus meetings as I offer my views as a member about how to respond to a worsening political climate. The Caucus might in the near-future need to discuss bail funds, attorney fees, getting people out of Texas and so on. * The Caucus is a well-run outfit and each monthly meeting has pizza or tacos. Meetings with food are the best meetings. * It is good to be out and about, to see folks and be seen & to get my steps for the day. Here are Caucus endorsements for 2024 primary. Here are Houston Democracy Project picks for 2024 primary. The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. Above are two pictures I took today of the work being done at Houston Ave. under order of Mayor Whitmire without meaningful Council input. The city is undoing road and pedestrian safety measures that were completed just two months ago.
I counted 15 construction-related vehicles here doing the work. (Destruction-related in this case.) There was no process here other than Mayor Whitmire's private conversations with people who did not like the project. The district councilperson opposed the undoing of the work and asked for a delay in the mayor's plans to go ahead. There is so much that needs to be fixed in Houston. Mayor Whitmire decided this was the priority. He got the work done with great speed and summoned all the equipment you see in the pictures. If you have an issue with the city, know they can act quickly. So often citizens are told they must wait months and years to see just routine maintenance and overdue improvements on roads and in parks. Not true. If you know Mayor Whitmire, the city will act with haste. Contact Mayor Whitmire and councilmembers and tell them what the City of Houston can work on with urgency. We know it can be done for Mayor Whitmire's friends. Let's see if it can also be done for the common good. (Update-Houston Public Works Department told KUHF 88.7 that the new work has cost $730,000 on top of the $100,000 the original construction cost.) The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].  The Egberto Willies Politics Done Right show will feature Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg tomorrow morning, 2/20, at 6 AM. Above you see Egberto's write up of the show. Here is Egberto's website. The Houston Democracy Project is on for the full hour of Politics Done Right each Thursday morning at 6 AM on KPFT 90.1 FM. Please tune in and give the show a call on whatever you'd like to discuss. You see above that Politics Done Right is a fundraising drive for KPFT. Here is the link to donate. Be certain to list Politics Done Right as the program you are supporting. Egberto works hard to prepare his shows & will do a good interview with DA Ogg. Give it a listen tomorrow morning and share word of Politics Done Right with others. Both Politics Done Right & the Houston Democracy Project are members of the Texas Grassroots Alliance. The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. The Houston Democracy Project does not formally endorse candidates. But I would like to mention some democracy-minded candidates who have earned a strong look in the Harris County Democratic Primary.
These are candidates with a record in office of protecting democracy or who have been open in discussion of democracy as a candidate. Early voting is February 20-March 1 & Primary Election Day is March 5. This list is not meant to be complete. I could well be missing someone. If you have a suggestion please leave a comment. Here are the candidates: * Rosalind Caesar- Texas House District #139 * Danny Norris-Texas House District #142 *Lauren Ashley Simmons-Texas House District #146 * Christian Menifee-County Attorney * Sean Teare-District Attorney * Danielle Keys Bess-Tax Assessor-Collector * Meagan Hassan-14th Court of Appeals, Place 6 * Allison Mathis-Criminal Court #338 * Gemayel Haines-Criminal Court #486 * Denise Brown-Civil Court #127 * Mike Englehart-Civil Court #151 * Fran Watson- Probate Court #5 * Lillian Alexander-Family Court #507 * Gion Thomas-U.S. House 38th District The Senate District 15 race has three candidates who merit a full look: * Karthik Soora * Molly Cook * Todd Litton Karthik's campaign has been strong. Molly and Todd are good people. All three care about democracy and I believe would work for our freedom against the right. A top purpose of the Houston Democracy Project is to say we must look past candidates and elected officials as we face an authoritarian and anti-democratic threat. We often would be better off supporting efforts outside of candidates and elected officials. Efforts such as the Houston Democracy Project! Candidates suck up a lot of money that for the most part does not help build community or strengthen democracy. Elected officials are rarely fully reliable allies. A two party system where there is only one non-authoritarian option is not really a two party system. We must build our own infrastructure of care, self-protection, communication, ideas and action. We must be relentless in demanding the officials we support to all they can to drive turnout in Harris County in 2024 as we work to hold the county and defeat traitor Ted Cruz. At the same time, elections matter and many fine people do run for office. Lets encourage candidates who merit support and then hold them accountable after they are elected. The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. |
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